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Football

10th Jun 2015

Lionel Messi to go on trial for tax fraud

Can the Argentine dribble his way out of this?

Robert Redmond

The best footballer in the world will be going on trial for tax fraud.

No, not Paul McShane, Lionel Messi, and his father Jorge, are to face trial on allegations of tax fraud worth €4.1 million.

Barcelona courts dismissed Messi’s legal team’s appeal to prevent the player being put on trial, and will now have a day in court, but still denies any wrongdoing.

Messi and his father are alleged to have used companies in South America to sell image rights between 2007 and 2009, enabling them to bypass Spanish tax obligations.

Messi’s defence team say the player “has never dedicated a single minute of his life to reading, studying or analysing” his contracts.

H/T The Mirror.

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Lionel Messi